Through musical expression,
the San Diego Women’s Chorus encourages women’s creativity, celebrates diversity, and inspires social action.
ABOUT
The San Diego Women’s Chorus (SDWC) is a lesbian-identified, feminist family of musicians that welcomes members and volunteers from the vastly diverse LGBTQ+ and straight ally communities. Founded in 1987 by community activist Cynthia Lawrence-Wallace, SDWC has grown from a group of 14 lesbians gathered around a piano to a thriving community with over 150 diverse members who believe in the power of music, the power of women, and the power of marginalized voices.
San Diego Women’s Chorus is a non-profit community chorus that strives to entertain and inspire audiences with music that speaks to issues as diverse as human rights, love, world peace, religion freedom, environmental harmony, inclusion, and cultural diversity. SDWC supports and affirms the music of women, LGBTQ+, feminist, and BIPOC composers and arrangers.
Sing With
SDWC
Interested in joining the San Diego Women’s Chorus? We welcome women, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and transgender individuals who sing in the Soprano/Alto (treble) range.
Our History
The San Diego Women’s Chorus was officially established in 1987 by Dr. Cynthia Lawrence-Wallace, a well-known community activist. That first group consisted of just 14 members who rehearsed in Cynthia’s home, and we are so proud to have founding members still singing with us today! Over the past 35 years, hundreds of SDWC singers have expressed their love of music and passion for the community through our quality choral concerts. Historically, we have prioritized the music of LGBTQ+ composers and arrangers and have focused on music for and by women.
During the first few years of its existence, SDWC performed at a variety of local community events including Gay Pride Day, the San Diego Democratic Club Banquet, NOW National Lesbian Rights Conference, and Gay Veteran’s Veterans Day Service. SDWC’s first headlining performance was a joint Pride performance with the San Diego Men’s Chorus in 1989. Our first solo performance took place on April 7, 1990 in a concert simply titled “San Diego Women’s Chorus.” In 1996, SDWC began consistently producing two full-length concerts per year. In 2014, we introduced cabaret-style events to showcase the individual and small-group talents of our singers, and in 2015, we expanded to three full concerts per year (Fall/Winter, Spring, and Summer/Pride). In 2012, SDWC experienced significant growth in singing membership, expanding from 50 to 75 members in one season. SDWC continues to perform in a variety of community events throughout the greater San Diego area multiple times throughout the year.
SDWC has been led by four Artistic Directors: Dr. Cynthia Lawrence-Wallace (1987-1993), Doris Dechenne (1993-1996), Christopher Allen (1996-2014), and Kathleen Hansen (2014-present). We have shared the stage with a number of well-known artists, including Indigo Girls, Janis Ian, Demi Lovato, Hugh Jackman, Holly Near, Cris Williamson, Margie Adam, Melanie DeMore, Amy Steinberg, Lucy Blue Tremblay, Pam & Maggie, Barry Manilow, and Frenchie Davis, to name a few. SDWC has performed across North America, including Montreal, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Grand Rapids, and in world-class venues and locations such as Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Denver Performing Arts Center, Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Disneyland, and SeaWorld San Diego.
For a list of the concerts and other community events that we have produced and performed, please see below.
1992 SDWC 1st Annual Concert Photo: Vertez Burks
In Dulci Jubilo
Artistic Director: Kathleen Hansen
Dec 2, 2018